1978 Toyota Land Cruiser

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

Rust in the roof, cowl, rockers and arches All years Walk away if found

What to check: Look along the roof by the drip rails, the cowl, the lower front fenders, inside the doors, the rockers, the wheel arch lips, the floor by the kick panels and the bottom of the tailgate. Then check the frame rails and body mounts.

Hagerty calls rust the main concern. Replacement panels mostly do not exist, so repairs are made by hand, and a poor past repair is a reason to offer less or walk away.

Sources ^1,2
Torn seats and cracked dash All years

What to check: Look at the vinyl seats, the dash top and the rubber mats.

They rip and crack with age, and trim and weatherstripping are hard to find.

Sources ^1,2

No recalls are listed for this year.

Checked against NHTSA records on 21 October 2026.